Gelati Monastery (Kutaisi): what to see and how to get there

Gelati is a medieval monastery founded by King David IV the Builder in 1106 on a hill north-east of Kutaisi. The Gelati Academy operated alongside it - a major centre of learning in its day - and David IV himself is buried here. Since 1994 Gelati has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Why the monastery is famous

The Gelati monastery complex on a hill near Kutaisi. Photo: Matthias Bethke / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The main church of the complex - the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin - was begun by David IV in 1106 and finished in 1130 under his son Demetrius I. Inside, a 12th-century mosaic of the Virgin survives in the apse, one of the few medieval mosaics in Georgia. By his own wish, David IV was buried not inside the church but at the monastery gate - so that everyone entering would pass over his grave.

Interior of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin at Gelati — Interior of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. Photo: Arian Zwegers / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Mosaic and frescoes in the altar apse of Gelati cathedral — The 12th-century mosaic and frescoes in the altar apse. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

Medieval fresco on a wall of Gelati cathedral — Medieval frescoes on the cathedral walls. Photo: Peter Ashton / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

The Gelati Academy at the monastery was one of the leading intellectual centres of its time: for the high standard of its teaching and translations it was called the “new Athens”. The combination of the main church, the royal tomb and the academy is what made Gelati the spiritual and scholarly heart of medieval Georgia.

The academy building, the Church of St Nicholas and the Gelati bell tower — The academy building, the Church of St Nicholas and the bell tower. Photo: Dudva / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

How to get there

Gelati Monastery in daylight. Photo: Herbert Frank / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The monastery sits a few kilometres north-east of Kutaisi. Most people get there by car or taxi from the city, heading towards the village of Gelati - it’s a short drive and works well as a half-day trip.

Nearby

In the same area near Kutaisi you’ll find Prometheus Cave - easy to combine with Gelati on one trip around Imereti. For more places across the country, see the things to see section.

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